Feist Backs Indiegogo Campaign for Canadian Sex Abuse Doc

The pop star has pledged $10,000 for a film about men who abuse women amid the CBC Jian Ghomeshi scandal

Pop icon Leslie Feist has given $10,000 to an Indiegogo campaign for a Canadian documentary about men who abuse women.

A Better Man, executive produced by Sarah Polley, is co-written and directed by Attiya Khan, who counts Feist as an early supporter. "Every now and then she popped an email to see how the project is going," Khan tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Now she pledged money, as she loves how I'm bringing in the person who hurt me to figure out ways to get men to end violence against women."

A Better Man, whose Indiegogo campaign launched on Monday, will include a conversation between Khan and a man she lived with 20 years ago who abused her daily over a two-year period. The fundraising comes in the wake of a nationwide conversation about violence against women after the CBC fired Jian Ghomeshi, a popular Canadian radio host, over widening sexual abuse and sexual assault allegations.

"There are a lot of conversations happening, and we need to continue to talk about it because violence against women is common," Khan said. In her statement on the Indiegogo campaign Feist also said she welcomed backing a film about men who abuse women.

"The hidden dynamic of abuse is pervasive and is often shrouded by an uncomfortable politeness between witnesses and the details," the Canadian singer-songwriter said. "From the courageous position of a woman who’s had 20 years to consider what she endured and with a willingness to hear another version of the same experience, I believe this will be an important documentary and spark a conversation we will all benefit from."

The crowdfunding campaign has raised more than $24,000 and aims to reach $75,000 by Dec. 20 to fund the first phase of production. Perks for contributors to A Better Man, also written and directed by Lawrence Jackman, include dinner with Polley and the film's crew, and a "living room concert" with Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge.